what can i say about this beer i dont like it its leave a nasty after taste in my mouth doesnt given look good in a glass yes everybody loves it but i dont ,i dont go with the flow looks light a light brown ale not dark and it goes down bitter and it doesnt do anything for me

I did not dig this beer at all. Poured out to a ruby red / brown color with a 1/2 inch head of foam. Medium low level of carbonation. Aromas were light, but hints of roasted malts were present. That's about all I got out of it. Taste was not up to par with what i've previously had from Goose Island; tasted like sweet teas were mixed with alcohol and some grain and malt notes. Mouthfeel was watery and uninspiring. I don't think i'll go for this again.

THE BLOODHOUND FACTOR: Neither hound seemed interested. Same feeling as their master.

One of the beers in a Christmas mix-six that my buddy Mike gave me at a recent tasting. Less of a gift than it was a "get this out of my cellar, please" gesture, per his own words. A bottle of the 2011 version, poured into a tulip.

The beer is a deep and rich brown in color; there is a nice little fluffy and sticky-looking head that forms on top. As I begin to drink, there are some delicate laced patterns that develop, but they stop forming about 1/4 of the way down the glass.

The aroma and flavor are shockingly disappointing. The aroma is less-so, as it brings out some caramel and toffee notes along with a touch of brown sugar sweetness. The flavor just isn't up to par. An odd vegetal flavor completely overtakes the sweet malty base of the beer, making it really difficult to drink.

While the consistency and carbonation are ok, the fact that my tongue recoils when I take a sip is the leading component of the "feel" of GI Christmas Ale. Just not a good beer overall. There are plenty of other seasonal offerings that blow this out of the water, so I won't lose sleep never giving this a second look again.

2012 edition. From the 12 oz bottle out of the cooler at Whole Foods in DC. Tastes more like an Old Ale, I can't conceive of this as a Brown. A little hazy, and I'd call it cherry-amber in color. Very thin but fine-grained foam.

This is just a peculiar taste. Buttery and roasted grainy flavor. Maybe the musty smell is the tip-off that not all is well. Distinct cola flavor with some earthy hops. The carbonation is quite nice, however. Sweet and slightly bitter. Well, this is sort of drinkable, it doesn't seem to be spoiled, but the rest of the bottle is going down the sink.

A - Hazed, brilliant mahogany with an off white head that has cent retention and lacing down the glass.

S/T - Underwhelming. One dimensional on the sweetness, with bready, dark fruits and brown sugar, and only the slightest hint of hops and bitterness. Unbalanced, with loads of lingering sweetness on the palate.